Comets shut down by Stormin’ Pointers 27-0

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CENTER POINT — Defense may win you championships.

But your defense will not always win you games, especially if you have “nil” on the scoreboard.

For the third-straight week, Charles City’s defensive unit put in a game effort during its Class 3A-District 3 road game against Center Point-Urbana last Friday

The Comets also played well on special teams as they blocked two conversion-kick attempts and nearly took a kickoff return to the house.

But on the offensive side of the ball, Charles City struggled while managing to get only one first down the entire game before suffering its third shutout loss in a row (27-0).

Senior Cole Werner led the Stormin’ Pointers’ rushing attack with 135 yards on 24 carries, including TD runs of 4, 5 and 16 yards.

Sophomore Jackson Brincks completed 11 of 18 pass attempts for 105 yards while helping Center Point-Urbana even its record at 3-3.

Charles City fell to 0-6.

Werner’s second TD run helped put the Stormin’ Pointers up 13-0 early in the second quarter.

CPU later took advantage of two Charles City turnovers late in the second quarter to add two more TDs for a 25-0 lead at intermission.

Both teams’ defensives ruled the field for most of the second half as they matched stuffed drives for the remainder of the game.

CPU scored the final points of the game due to a series of unfortunate events for the Comets.

While punting a possession away, Charles City senior Ethan Peterson booted his best punt of the season that — with a friendly roll — covered more than 60 yards from the line of scrimmage.

But the Comets were flagged for illegal motion on the play giving CPU the option to make Charles City punt again. Back from his own end zone, Peterson punted another bomb deep down field, but the referee ruled that Peterson’s knee hit the turf while fielding a low snap and, thus, waved off the punt in favor of a safety.

That’s Football.

Charles City senior Nathan Lopez was the Comets’ leading ground gainer for the second-straight game with 52 yards on 13 carries.

Charles City’s formidable linebacker core of Ethan Peterson, Trevor Peterson and Kayden Blunt again had their names called often over the P.A. system while racking up tackle totals. Both Petersons had 6 solo tackles, and Blunt had a game-high 8 total tackles.

Comet junior Josiah Cunnings had 4 solo tackles in the open field, several of which may have prevented touchdowns.

Lincoln Joslin had an interception and Logan Carey had a fumble recovery for both of the Comets’ forced turnovers against the Stormin’ Pointers.

Charles City recorded a season-high three quarterback sacks against CPU with Trevor Peterson and Colton Anderegg each getting one, and Gabe Rogstad and Keegan Bollman meeting at the QB for another.

Charles City’s resident special teams ace Micah Hillhouse was solid at lockdown corner for the Comets. But he got no love from the officials on one of his better plays of the game.

The Stormin’ Pointers attempted to go Hillhouse’s way on a deep-out route. Hillhouse made a great play on a ball slightly under thrown while fighting his way through the intended receiver, who had his back turned to the ball. Hillhouse’s all-out dive for the ball nearly resulted in an interception, but it wouldn’t have stood anyway as he was whistled for pass interference due to his contact with the receiver even though he was the one making the play on the ball.

That’s Football.

Twice during the game it looked as if Charles City was going to have its scoring drought ended. The first came during a kickoff return that junior Kayden Kasemeier broke for 50 yards before getting stopped by a shoestring tackle.

The second came during a 25-yard field goal attempt from Jack Hanson. From one angle it looked good … or it looked at least like it would have “doinked” an upright if CPU’s uprights stood taller. But it was ruled wide-right.

It’s not going to get any easier in the near future for the Comets in their quest to finally get into the win column. Next week they’re on the road again to face Class 3A No. 6-ranked Independence (6-1).

CENTER POINT-URBANA 27, CHARLES CITY 0

Scoring By Quarters

Charles City 0 0 0 0 — 0

Center Point-Urbana 6 19 0 2 — 27

Scoring Summary

CPU — Cole Werner 4-yard run (Pass failed) 5:42 1st, 6-0

CPU — Werner 5-yard run (Drew Shellhorn kick) 9:53 2nd, 13-0

CPU — Werner 16-yard run (Kick blocked) 3:08 2nd, 19-0

CPU — Kyle Kress 3-yard run (Kick blocked), 32.7 2nd, 25-0

CPU — Safety 8:45, 4th, 27-0

Individual Statistics

PASSING — Charles City, Jordan Foster 6-16, 32 yards, INT. Center Point-Urbana, Jackson Brincks 11-18, 105 yards, INT.

RUSHING — Charles City, Nathan Lopez 13 carries, 52 yards. Center Point-Urbana, Cole Werner 24 carries, 135 yards, 3 TDs; Jack Witte 8 carries, 40 yards; Jackson Brincks 12 carries, 42 yards; Kyle Kress 3 carries, 8 yards, TD.

RECEIVING — Josiah Cunnings 4 catches, 20 yards; Gabe Rogstad 1 catch, 7 yards; Kaden Littledon 1 catch, 5 yards. Center Point-Urbana, Brandon Miller 5 catches, 53 yards; Tucker Clark 5 catches, 42 yards; Cole Werner 1 catch, 10 yards.

DEFENSE — Charles City, Kayden Blunt 8 total tackles, 5 solo tackles; Ethan Peterson 7.5 total tackles, 6 solo tackles; Trevor Peterson 7 total tackles, 6 solo tackles, QB sack; Josiah Cunnints 5 total tackles, 4 solo tackles; Lincoln Joslin interception; Logan Carey fumble recovery; Colton Anderegg, QB sack; Carter Burkhardt tackle for loss. Center Point-Urbana, Trevor Antes 7.5 total tackles, 5 solo tackles, tackle for loss; Kyler Kress 6 total tackles, 5 solo tackles, interception; Drake VanGorder QB sack; Tyler Bark fumble recovery.

RECORDS — Center Point-Urbana 3-3, Charles City 0-6